Foreign scribes may not be able to cover Dalai visit

New Delhi: A number of foreign journalists,
intending to cover the Dalai Lama`s visit to Arunachal Pradesh
beginning Sunday, may not be able to do so as their
applications for special permits are still under process.

At least 19 journalists, 14 of them based in India and
five abroad, have applied to the Ministry of External Affairs
(MEA) for permission to travel to Arunachal to cover the high
profile visit.
Asked about the status of the applications, MEA sources
merely said these are under "process".

The delay would effectively mean that the journalists
would not be able to make it as the Dalai Lama`s visit will
begin tomorrow.

Apparently sensing this, some of the foreign media houses
have sent the local correspondents to cover the event.

The Tibetan spiritual leader will be undertaking a
week-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which is being objected
to by China as it lays claim over the state.

As per the rules, foreigners have to approach the MEA for
Restricted Area Permit to travel to the sensitive state. For
Indians, an Inner Line Permit is required, which is given by
Arunachal Pradesh government representative in Delhi.
Some journalists directly approached the Arunachal Bhavan
here which gave Inner Line Permit to them, the sources said.
Carrying these Permits, the journalists reached Guwahati where
they were stopped as they could not travel on the basis of
these documents.